THE CORPORATION LAND SALE.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 30, 29 March 1879, Page 2

THE CORPORATION LAND SALE.

No one who attended the neat tale of Cbrpowfcion land, which took place on Wednesday, at Feilding, would be inclined fo put the faith m the report heard upon all sides as to the tightness of the nopty market, or the scarcity of cash ; and we think we are not far wrong m assuming that the keenness of the competition took even the auctioneers by surprise, as it certainly did the buyers. Perhaps one of the most healthy and satisfactory features m the pro. ■ ' ceedings was the aridity with which ru^ lots were sought after to the almost total neglect of town 9eptions.~ Thufui.pro.Te* two things— that the 1 sale will not only bf the means, of placing a handsome profit to the credit of the' proprietors, but that the fame of the character of the sale had drawn* purchasers from the South Island .to tfi* Nprth Island, and from the East CoWt to the West, aetuatedby a v desire to secur^at homestead upon the land of the Manawatuii The sale of town sections, and a keen contest for their possession, » by no, means a criterion of the value of the land orita ind> Tidual worth, for experience has shown that' some of the highest and most fancy prices hare been paid for sections which are not worth the cost of the deed, and the noted Carnarvon swindle is a oase m point. Wh«n, such jobs are perpetrated; however, it will be "found that the victims are those w.hj> have hid no knowledge of the property for. which they were bidding, and m order thai they may be kept so, the sale is always held, as far- removed from ,the locale of the. pur*, chase as possible. With the land just dis-. posed of, however, the reverse wai the pro i cedure, for not only wiaji every inx#*tig»tic 1 and inspection invited prior to submission* for offer, but every facility wks placed within^ the means of strangers to 1 makVtthemseLtee acquainted with its true value.. Xpoking at it then m that way, the thousands of acres just disposed of can scarcely be viewed m, the same light as an ordinary land sale— or at least one at which so many thousands were, plased before the, publio ; and although we do not doubt that some of the buyers would and wjll part with their purchasts at an advance, we make bold to say that very few of the lots- bought were prompted by speculation. ■ In, order to give tain* proof ofthe truth of> this assertion, we have gone to. no little trouble, m ascertaining the names, occupations, and addresses of every'individuai purchaser, and from the appended list it wut be seen that although there were, representatives from districts spread over the. North and South Islands, .there was.ajcont. spicuous absence of: the genuine speculator. When' the admitted: duress of tiitt times,! and- the. almost unp^raUelled tightness and; scarcity of money, is taken" into, cpnsidera^ tion, it speaks well for the energy' 6f the. Agent of the Corporation, Mr. Bjalcdinbe, and the. reputation ■ of the land, that three or four hundred persons could be brought together, and cash sales to . the. extent of over £12,000 made. We have: made the summary of the. effecti of the day'st proceedings, and we find that ijaW than £12,187 19s; 6d. were realised by>ales on . cash terms, and £18,170 75£.,10d r upon th? deferred payment, principle, both producing Vsuin total of £30,358 7s. 4d. , Then again, while m some cases the rural land went up, asiigh as £9 ss. per acre— Mr.. John Tully,. a squatter from the' Wairarapa, being th* Purchaser at that price — and the suburban, £13; for cash, the areznge price* obtained^ were £4 7s. lOd. and £7, respectively. The. sale opened shortly after, one p'elock and. concluded about four> and m that; time no. .less than 5,933 rural and 364 suburban, 1 acres passed under.the.auptipneer's hammer, so that it will b*. seen that submitted a«T they were m, such small lots;, the^bidding must not only hav,e. been, keen, jtmt brisk" also. We. have.sfcated that the. demand for' , sections m the. town of Ashurst was not great, anjl that fact most be admitted, sslj it must not for a moment be imagined that ; such a result proceeded f ro» any -ijant^ of appreciation, for, as will be i seen* those, which were, disposed of. brought prices . which; might be sought for m vain m fixjpily established townships.; For our ow% &rV we were better pleased to see thet.auctipneejra -act as they, did m withdrawing the whole. ..township from, sale, reserving its disposaljun*. til a future dayj f drit ,i» fat more politic to allow' a. tow^n to create its own value, by having settlement all about it, than dispose, of a number of sections while, it is butt. ipunded by bush. The towjoship o^ Ashujrst can fairly be left to rest upon i^ mqrita, possessing as it does - one., of the finest i natural sites m the Island'; and had it h*en t disposed of on. Wednesday, it would have, been .purchased merely upon speculation, and so perhaps some of; the best sites, fall; | into th?. hands of absentees,, wjb^p would not settle upon, nor part: with their sections unless at fancy prices. . ■ A,, la^ge numbftr-of ioTflstois. arrived: m, Feilding 'the Tnight previouV^to the sale, - while-not a few had been in the district for. some, days, and had paida visit to the land, m order to have optical demonstration as to quality. The train fjpnv Palmer»tpn> and Foiton m the.morning took up a goodly number, whjle.both the ordinary and special trains from the North also came well laden, and little knpts.ofj. intending purchasers might be seen blocking up,^ streets of the. town, while those whowere. on "business bent " had adjourned to some qaiet| wajside, and there, with ttie pjtan, ■p^ad : ouji. before them, were studying the toppgraphy of jthe country, and the various positions ofroads, creeks, and bridge?.- Ar capilpl spread; was laid out m the lower floor ofthe building—prepared by Mx.Brownofjfch*Feilding Hotel— and after sufficient lime, had* been allowed to discusrits merits, anj ad-, journment was made to- up;stwrs for the, .sale. We forgot to state' that -it, was. held m the robms of Mr, Maysmor, 'and} some idea of their capacity may be gathered when.it is stated^ that although at jfiw* \ times there were between- three anwWjw [hundred m the room, the greater portion' behipd was still traoccupie,d. When the maps and plans ;of the^ different township^ hafli bjcen arranged m a commanding pos.r tion, Mr: Haicorijbe, m order to save the auctioneer, Mi Hugh Sherwill, unnecessary ■ talking, proceeded read over the odndttwmVof salei" stoppjng: tjo explain each clause, ;'ao that .th9J?e,shpuiJd;b»,neither ignorance nor-doubt. ' m\ a considerable. ■ time, but wjien oompjeted he ga/e way to Mr. Sherwill, who, before, commencing tjhe f •first lot, askedeaoh one to bid both qji^Wy and loudly, as the. first would saveujaneces-. sary time, an^b^ the latter mistakes wouldj be ■aT6ided;.'.W'-»|i-'^i^:'W;'imp()«n.ble to catch the eye. of eVerypne,. m sudh a large, gathering. T^ie: salev was. opened with thf, BLOffc BtraAi-pßOTioys. Section 1, Tfil i pat up-*^ fch^rese^te'sl^3, **& quickly, : run up to. L 5 10s., w*i», it was. knockedj down to a laborer m, HJalpombe named M* Noffkie. However, h.e^ aftsK^dftdjscovere^ that it wasacashiiptijanAnpropP^ - : *K deferred payment, and h^. \ was unable to. comply i*9iu the. confl^ions, it had to be resold, l^na*. then, bought bj. Frank Evans, of Bulls, hotelkeepe^: for. Ls.^ totals LSOB, cash. iSßction 2, 159a. lr. 35p,— W. L. Baillie., Opouaj sawmaier,at,Ls 6s.j total, LB37x pash. '•■- •■ .-■■ ■. •"'■'..■ rToection 3, 90a, ?r. 16p,--J. W.i»e, \^> X deferred parmen^ ' * , .;

. Section Ba, 50a. — C. L. Maclean, solicitor, 3ull%,rt^!Ls^_tfttal, L 262 lp«., cash. '*■ Becta»n ♦, 'sD».— Jimes Anderson, cnrpentVr, Feilditlf, at IS 55. ; total, L 262 10i., cash. .-•■--.• : ■■-■"• ■ ■■■■■ Section 4a, fiOa..---Knpcked down to a man uamed I*u»m fdr 't4 sii, but could not comply with condition*; After wards sold to Alfred Gtojrer, teacher, Karere, at La 65. : total, LOTtfC-, cash.- ■- Section 5, **9ai lr. 86p.— Alfred Gtower, Karere, at L 5 55. ; total, L 259 14s. 10d., cash. — — Section sA^47a. Jpr. P 46p.— John Neilien, <jarpenter> Gilding, at Lo 5«. ; total, 1/247 17«v4dyoash. Section 6, 47a. lr. 13p.— Same buyer, at L 6 ss. L 295 16r. 54-, cn»h. , . „ Section 6a, 47a. 1r.84p.^-Same buyer, at 16 10i. ; total, L260 185.10d., cash.. , . tiafifa,* , J®*>st- .ISp.-, John .Tolly,, Rraiw.wirirap^itl^; tbt*l,Ll2slßi. 6d v oa«n - T*stty '• -■■■, *'. ; o;f?.- ..■• 1 ; : ' SAiioiV ti.-^-^erTed for townihip. Section 8, 84a. Sir. 34p.— This lot was sold oh the deferred payment, but the Corporation resefred 1 ft . itißlf/the right to , cut timber upon it ,for,bridges and other works MW^m^j^iUb4 pre Tented from cutting totar^^ntil that time expired. Notwith»ta%aiSg^KeiVil«ngent conditions, it was purchased by Mr. William Whisker, ■ettier,-of -Jading, at.JW lQs. $ and as he and his brother are the two oldest settlers m that part of the district, and their knowltdg«'of>%fiStValae!of Jibe land, should .entitle their judgment to consideration, it is a most flattering evidence of its: worth. Total amount, JSBBH4aisd: '?u •: •Section 9, 50a.— George Stuart, laborer, Feilding, at LQ^l(i,'3d f 'i totsl^ L 328 2s. 6d., Sectwn % ?A/50a;— Ernest S. Ihynne, auc-, Sec^^D^6a.i-^Joti^iiarphy, laborer, Aihurst, aTIUB *7^6<i:'i toM; LR43 155., Section lOAi^w.-^Andi'ew'Laing, oarpeniW,#Smi&Wt&'6i. i sm acre j! total, 1362 ■WKfouiH^Vp ■■•*<"& i^V^-y: .-. .'.-.':< . ■^SWSron 11,-50*.^- William Bobertson.carpenter, Feilding. at I*6 lls. 3d. ; total, L 328 *r6at, Hefirred/paymeijtj- ,1 ■-,-. ....; , Section Ha, 60a.-rJfah« carpenter, Feilding, at L 5 ss. \ *><**> k 26 2 105-. cash. "Section 12, 50a.—John Tully, graaier, Vtoirafapit, %\ I# 16* 3d, j tota^ 1i5.510 125. 6d., deferred payment. •; Section 12A,-ißeiei > Ted for township. Secti^tf v 29ai 2r. 17p/—San\ip ! buyer, at Lll lls.ia V^otalv L 8« 6s. 5d.,, re^^payment. This'^as. the highest ftgVtre Bection 13, 142». lr. Bp.^^o. A"«Dwbrtn, laborer, Feilding,' at L 7.: 165. . 3d. ; total, LUUl'tt.' 4^ deferred /payment. 14; 126a. lr. 22p.— H. Qamfivm. «hfiSictdr,/rurakina, at L 5 18s, 9d. ; total, %75tf8s: / '6d.,aeferred payment.' . i / Section 15, 19£|a. 3r. psp.TrrO.wen Pleasant, constaible, dart'o'n,' r *t i«4 13r. ; 9d; j total,; l ißi9a?lr. 7p.M3: Ll lfaoie»n, ; aplicitor,BuUfe,ratLs; total, L 946 95., d«fisrred. payment. Sectfoqp if ,18, ' and 19 were sold some inonthyagQ. t ffSelJtibn 2p, 800a. 2r. 88p.--Wm. Whisker, af!s I^s.^ed. ; £16ari38., deferred J,n ,5.,-V ,-.:.- 3 :!- w - *^"~ . '. Section 21, 295a. 2r. 29p.— Wm. Ilead, L 3105 ,; total, 14034. 17s! 9d.',*cash'. :' . " ; .'''V 1..1 '.. :' -. ■ : ." ■- ir Section 30p.— E. S. Thynne, jM^upse^ pjSee) L3 15i. ; total, L 917; lla. 7dy, JIX "S&Viofr^S, 267a; 2r. Up,— Her. Gordon -Furlorig^ at. unset price, 1$ } total, L 742 iitf&m'm?.^'^' ,^i, ■-„:.. ,■< ' **Sl&ibnf>'24, 220*. 2r> 4p.— Dr. Sprati,, Gre^tpwn, at"LB 55. ; total, L 71 6145., cash. sst Sactfbn 25; 252a. f 2rr-Qjeorge ; Saundera^ Imborer, Wanlsuwrt' I*Wb.-S.-. to**l» L ?& ««;(4d.V deferred payment. .. iSVetiona v^6, 27,.2«-,and ,20,, comprising 1191 acres, were sold to Mr. F. M. Belts prirat.ly at L 3 15b. ; total, L 4487 14s. 10d., 4efbiT<dpay'nient.'.J r ;. fi ■ For 'Sectioris there, was no offer •t.ttt upset price of L 3 per acre.